Soft ore milling machine



A g- 1940- E. w. WHEELER SOFT ORE MILLING MACHINE Filed Sept. 2, 1939 4 Sheets-Sheet l EWW/Ieeler Aug. 13, 1940.

E. w. WHEELER SOFT ORE MILLING MACHINE Filed Sept. 2. 1959 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 E. w. WHEELER SOFT ORE MILLING MACHINE Aug; 13, 1940.

Filed Sept. 2, 1939 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 lnuuuuuuul EWW/ieeZer Aug. 13, 1 E. w. WHEELER SOFT ORE MILLING MACHINE Filed Sept. 2, 1939 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Aug. 13, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFlCE 11 Claims.

This invention relates to milling or separating machines.

An object of this invention is to provide a milling or separating machine which is adapted to recover gold or other precious metals from. soft ore or fine ground ore.

Another object or purpose of this invention is the amalgamating process used in connection with the operation of said machine, so that in the operation of said machine gold ore and other precious metals can be amalgamated from coarse unground ore or fine material.

Another object of this invention is to provide a machine of this character which is so constructed that it may be readily set up in places inaccessible to other machines capable of accom- .plishing the Work.

A further object of this invention is to provide a machine of this character including superposed separating and grinding members and means for securing said members on a rockable platform in such a manner that the separating and grinding members may be easily and quickly angularly ad.- justed relative .to each other.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a mill of this character wherein the precious metals are amalgamated with a liquid metal, such as quicksilver, and wherein the quicksilver is subjected to an agitating action so as to prevent the accumulation of scum or corrosion on the surface of the quicksilver.

A further object of this invention is to provide a mill of this character wherein the agitation of the device is effected in a movement transverse to the movement of the ore therethrough.

A further object of this invention is to provide a mill of this character having rifiles extending parallel with the movement of the mill wherein pockets are formed at the forward instead of the rear end of each rifiie member within which pockets quicksilver or other suitable amalgamat-' ing means is adapted to be disposed.

A further object of this invention is to provide a structure of this kind wherein the soft and earthly material and ore and soft materials in the ore is initially subjected to a grinding and separating treatment. The grinding elements being the hard parts of the ore is later removed by means of grizzleys and the remaining fine and dissolved material passed on through the machine in order to remove the coarse and the very fine particles of the precious metal.

A further object and purpose of this invention is to remove the clay talc and other earthly materials from the hard ore, the hard ore doing the work of a classifier as Well as an amalgamator.

To the foregoing objects and to others which may hereinafter appear, the invention consists of the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will be more specifically referred to and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein is shown an embodiment of the invention, but it is to be understood that changes, modifications and variations may be resorted to which fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.

.In the drawings:

Figurel isa detailed top plan of a soft ore milling machine constructed according to an embodiment of this invention,

Figure 2 is a sectional view partly in side elevation taken on the line 22 of Figure 1,

Figure 3 is a longitudinal section taken on the line 33 of Figure 1,

, Figure 4 is a vertical section taken on the line l l of Figure 3,

Figure 5 is a sectional View partly in top plan taken on the line 55 of Figure 2,

Figure 6 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of Figure 1,

Figure 7 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 'l-'l of Figure 2, and

Figure 8 isan enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 8-8 of Figure 3.

Referring to the drawings the numeral 10 designates generally a base member which is substantially rectangular in plan and the numeral 1 I designates generally a platform which is disposed above the base Ill. The platform II on the under side thereof and at each end is provided in the transverse center thereof with a bearing [2. The bearing I2 is secured to the underside of the platform by means of fastening devices [3. The base It adjacent each end thereof is provided with upstanding bearings I4 and rock shafts l5 engage through adjacent bearings l2 and M so as to rockably support the platform ll above the base ll] for rocking movement transverse to the length of the platform H. A plurality of springs it are interposed between the opposed longitudinal sides of the platform I I and the base Iii so as to cushion the rocking movement of the platform II on the shafts or pivotal members l5.

' An uppercombined grinding and separating box or member ll is disposed above the platform ii and a lower box or separating member 18 is disposed immediately above the platform I I. An intermediate box or separating member I9 is disposed intermediate the lower box 18 and the upper box 51. The intermediate box 19 is inclined to the horizontal and is secured at its upper or rear end to the forward end of the upper box H by means of a shaft 20 extending through hinge members 2| and 22 carried by the intermediate box 19 and the upper box I! respectively. The lower box 18 at its forward or discharge end is pivotally secured to the adjacent end of the plat- .form- I I by means of a shaft 23 engaging through hinge members 24 and 25 carried by the platform II and the box I8 respectively. The lower or forward end of the intermediate box I9 is pivotally secured to the upper or rear end of the box I 8 by means of a shaft 26 extending through hinge members 27 and 28 carried by the intermediate box i9 and the lower box I8 respectively.

The lower box I8 is supported in upwardly inclined position or at an inclination to the horizontal by means of a pair of wedge members 29 provided with a rabbeted or flanged upper edge 38. The wedge member 29 is adapted to be moved longitudinally of the platform II and the box I8 so as to thereby vertically rock the box I8 on the shaft 23 and support the box I8 in the desired fixed position relative to the platform II. An intermediate wedge 3I is interposed between the lower box I8 and the intermediate box I9, there being a wedge 3| on each side of the boxes I3 and I9. The wedge 3! is provided on opposed tapering edges thereof with flanges 32 and 33 which are adapted to engage on the outer sides of the lower box I8 and the intermediate box I 9 respectively. The wedge 3I is held in adjusted position lengthwise of the boxes I8 and I9 by means of clamping bars 34 and 35 which are secured to the inner side of a wedge 3| by means of fastening members 36 and 31 respectively. The clamping bar 34 is adapted to extend downwardly over the inner face of a side wall 38 carried by the lower box I 8 and may be clamped against the wall 38 by means of a clamping member 39. The clamping bar 35 extends upwardly of the lower edge of the side wall 48 of the intermediate box I9 and is tightly secured to the wall or side 48 by a clamping bolt 4|. The lower wedge 29 is provided on an inner side thereof with a pair of clamping bars 42 which are mounted on bolts 43 and the clamping bars 42 are tightened against the side walls 39 by means of bolts or clamping members 44.

The upper box I1 is supported in a selected angular relation to the intermediate box I9 by means of a pair of wedges 45. These wedges 45 are provided with flanges 46 and 41 on the lower and upper edges thereof which are adapted to engage on the outer surfaces of the side walls 48 carried by the upper box IT. The wedges 45 are held in adjusted position relative to the intermediate box I9, by means of clamping bars 49, which are similar to the clamping members 34 and 35 and the upper edge of each wedge 45 is provided with clamping bars 50 similar to the clamping bars 34 and 35 so that the wedge 45 will be held firmly in adjusted position relative to the intermediate box I9 and the upper box H.

A plurality of transversely disposed bars 5I extend transversely across the upper edges of the upper side walls 48 and vertically disposed bars 52 are secured by means of nuts 53 and 54 to the platform II. These bars or rods 52 are disposed in outwardly spaced relation to the side walls of the boxes and the upper ends of the rods or bars 52 are provided with threads 55 upon which upper and lower nuts 56 and 51 are threaded. The nuts 56 and 5! engage on opposite sides of a transverse bar 5| and provide a means for tightly holding the boxes II, I8 and I9 relative to the rockable platform II. The boxes II, I8 and I9, together with the platform I I, are rocked or oscillated transversely of the length thereof by means of an operating member 58. The operating member 58 is constructed in a form of power member and may be water power or any other form of power, or electric motor or an internal combustion engine which is provided with a drive shaft 59. The drive shaft 59 is provided with an eccentric 68 about which a split ring 6| engages. The eccentric 69 is provided with opposite annular flanges 62 which form a guide and between which the ring 6| engages. A link 63 is secured to the ring GI and extends downwardly, being connected to a coupling means 64 in the form of a substantially universal coupling having one part 65 mounted on a shaft or pin 56 and the other part 65 is rockably mounted on a shaft 61 disposed at right angles, to the shaft or pin 88. The shaft 61 engages through a bracket member 68 carried by an arm 69 which is secured by fastening members 78 to the platform I I.

The upper box Ii' comprises a pair of parallel vertically disposed side walls 48, a rear wall II, and a plurality of inclined bottom walls I2 which are disposed between the side walls 48. The forward ends of the bottom walls I2 are secured to vertical walls I3 extending between the side walls 48 and each bottom wall I2 forms with the adjacent side walls 48 a grinding or separation chamber I4. The bottom walls I2 each have an inner metallic bottom wall I5 which may be formed of iron or the like and the upper surface of the inner bottom I5 is formed with a plurality of longitudinally extending rifiles I6. There may be as many grinding and separation chambers I4 in the box I! as may be desired or considered necessary and at the forward end of each chamber 14 there is provided a vertically and angularly disposed baffle TI. The bafiies I1 are hingedly secured to the upper ends of plates 78, which are fastened by fastening devices I9 to the forward ends of the bottom members I2. Each baflle TI is provided with a slotted arcuate arm 89 through which a holding member BI engages so that the height and inclination of each bafile member I! may be angularly adjusted relative to the bottom I2 and the inner bottom or riifle member comprising the bottom plate I5 and the rifiles I6 by adjusting the arms 88. Each baffle member 17 is provided with an opening Ila therethrough providing water passage and forming means whereby a suction will be developed at the forward end of each grinding and separation chamber I4. The bottom wall I2 of each chamber I4 is inclined forwardly and inwardly thereby forming a pocket 8| within which quicksilver 82 is adapted to be positioned. The quicksilver 82 is positioned at the lower rear end of each chamber I4 so that the precious metal in the form of gold or the like passing over or under the bafile I! will drop vertically downwardly onto the quicksilver 82 and become amalgamated therewith.

The forward grinding and separation chamber I4 is provided at its forward end with an upstanding wall or baflie 33 and a grizzley or grating 84 is secured to the baffle or forward wall 83 and to a lower wall 85 extending between the side walls 48. The grizzley 84 is adapted to remove the larger particles used in the grinding operation which larger particles may comprise hard rock or the like and the material removed from the mass by the grizzley 84 is adapted to be discharged forwardly into a suitable receiver (not shown).

The intermediate separating member I9 is provided with a plurality of separating chambers 86, 81 and 88. The chamber 86 is the receiving chamber which is adapted to receive the material from the upper box I? and has a portion thereof positioned immediately below the grizzley or screen 84. The chamber 86 is provided with an end wall 89 and a pair of bottom walls 90 and 9I. The bottom wall 90 extends in parallel relation to the lower edge of the sides 40 and the bottom wall 9I extends forwardly and upwardly thereby forming a pocket 92 at the angle between the two bottom members 90 and 9|. An inner bottom wall 93 is mounted on top of the bottom 99 and an inner bottom 94 is mounted on top of the bottom 9I. In practice the two bottom members 93 and 94 are formed integrally with each other and are formed out of sheet metal such as amalgamated copper or other suitable metal.

The forward end of the separating chamber 86 is provided with a vertically downwardly extending wall 95 forming a rear wall of thesucceeding chamber 8i. The rear end of the chamber 91 has a pocket 99 which is substantially lower than the height of the forward end. The chamber 86 is provided with a bottom wall 91 and an inner bottom 98 formed of amalgamated copper or the like. There may be as many intermediate chambers 81 as may be desired depending only on the length of the box 9]. The foremost chamber 8! discharges into the last chamber 88 which has a bottom wall 99 extending between the sides 49 and an inner bottom lllI] is mounted on the inner surface of the bottom member 99. Preferably the ends of the side walls 49 are cut off on an angle as at I9! so that the side walls ll) may be in vertical alignment with the sidewallsst of the lower member I8.

The material includingwater and ore is discharged over the upper forward end of the bottom wall IllIl into a receiving chamber I62 carried by the lower member Ill. The receiving chamber I92 is provided with a bottom wall I93 secured between the side walls 39 and an inner bottom I04 formed of amalgamated copper or other suitable metal is mounted on the inner surface of the bottom I93. A lower pocket I95 is formed in the receiving chamber I02 within which quicksilver or the like may be positioned. A plurality of intermediate chambers I09 are positioned forwardly of the receiving chamber I92 and each intermediate pocket I96 is provided with a lower bottom Ill! and an inner bottom I98. The bottom members I91 and H38 are inclined to the horizontal in a direction reverse to the movement of the material so asto form a pocket I99 between the rear end of the inner wall I08 and a vertical wall Ill). The vertical wall III! extends between the side members 39 and the foremost end wall III] is secured to the bottom I93 of the receiving chamber 12. The last or discharging chamber II I is disposed at the lower end of the lower box I8 and is adapted to discharge the water and other material into a suitable receiver (not shown).

The ore including water is discharged into the upper box I9 and each pocket 82 in the upper box !8 is adapted to have quicksilver 82 positioned therein. The power member 58 is adapted to transversely rock the superposed boxes and the platform II so as to move the material from side to side. The water may pass through the opening 81! in thebaffle members 71 which are adjusted as to height by angle so that the ore may readily pass thereover. The initially separated precious metal is adapted to drop vertically downwardly over the baflie member I? into the pockets 8! where the precious metal will be amalgamated with the quicksilver 82. In the initial discharge of the ore and water into the upper member N there is also a discharged heavier material in the form of crushed rock or pebbles which in the transverse rocking of the device will form grinding means for grinding the ore as the ore is moved transversely overthe riflles Iii. When the material leaves the last chamber its the larger grinding members will be separated from the finer material and the water by means of the grizzley or screen into the receiving chamber 89 .of the intermediate box 59, and then moves forwardly and downwardly until it is dis charged from the last chamber 89 into the receiving chamber of the lower box It). During the passage of the material through the intermediatebox 59 the finer precious metal will be amalgamated with quicksilver in the pockets 92 and li. The material including water will pass forwardly .from the receiving chamber I92 through the intermediate chambers Hi9 into the discharge chamber II I. The material separated from the ore in the lower box 58 will be retained platform, means at the opposite ends of the platform rockably securing said platform to said base, a plurality of superposed troughs above said platform, means pivotally securing the adjacent ends of said troughs together, a plurality of wedge members between said troughs maintaining said troughs in inclined position, a pair of transversely disposed bars engaging the uppermost of said troughs, and tie rods engaging through said bars and said platform to secure said troughs against movement relative to said platform.

2. A device as set forth comprising a base, a platform, means at the opposite ends of the platform rockably securing said platform to said base,

means for rocking said platform, a plurality of superposed troughs above said platform, means pivctally securing the adjacent ends of said troughs together, plurality of wedge members between said troughs maintaining said troughs in inclined position, means securing said wedge members in adjusted position relative to said troughs, a pair of transversely disposed bars engaging the uppermost of said troughs, and tie rods engaging through said bars and said platform to secure said troughs against movement relative to said platform.

3. A device as set forth, a base, a plurality of superposed troughs, and means rockably mounting said troughs on said base for rocking movement transverse to the length thereof, each trough comprising a pair of side walls, a plurality of bottom walls disposed in substantially parallel planesand inclined to the length of said side walls, the rear end of one bottom wall being disposed below the forward end of a preceding wall, and a riflied inner bottom carried by each of said first bottom walls, the riflies of said inner bottom extending lengthwise of a trough.

4. A device as set forth, a base, a plurality of superposed troughs, and means rockably mounting said troughs on said base, each trough comprising a pair of side walls, a plurality of bottom walls disposed in substantially parallel planes and inclined to the length of said side walls, the rear end of one bottom wall being dis- 15 posed below the forward end of a preceding wall, a rifiled bottom carried by each of said first bottom walls, the riffles of said inner bottom extending lengthwise of a trough, an upwardly projecting bafile at the forward end of each of the bottom walls of the uppermost of said troughs, and mounting means for each baffle.

5. A device as set forth, a base, a plurality of superposed troughs, and means rockably mounting said troughs on said base, each trough comprising a pair of side walls, a plurality of bottom walls disposed in substantially parallel planes and inclined to the length of said side walls, the rear end of one bottom wall being disposed below the forward end of a preceding wall, a riffled inner bottom carriedby each of said first bottom walls, the rifiles of said inner bottom extending lengthwise of a trough, an upwardly projecting bafile at the forward end of each of the first bottom walls of the uppermost of said troughs, means swingably mounting said baffles, and means holding said baffles in angularly adjusted position relative to said first bottom walls.

6. A device as set forth, a base, a plurality of superposed troughs, and means rockably mounting said troughs on said base, each trough comprising a pair of side walls, a plurality of bottom walls disposed in substantially parallel planes and inclined to the length of said side walls, the rear end of one bottom wall being disposed below the forward end of a preceding wall, a rifiled inner bottom carried by each of said first bottom walls, the rifiles of said inner bottom extending lengthwise of a trough, an upwardly projecting bafiie at the forward end of each of the first bottom walls of the uppermost of said troughs, means swingably mounting said baflles, and m ans holding said baffles in angularly adjusted position relative to said first bottom walls, each of said bafiles including means whereby water and fine material may pass a baffle below the upper edge thereof.

7. A device as set forth comprising a base, a platform, means mounting said platform for rocking movement transverse to the length of said base, a lower trough, means pivotally securing one end of said lower trough on said platform, wedge means between said lower trough and said platform for holding said lower trough on an inclination to the horizontal, an intermediate trough, means securing one end of said intermediate trough to the upper end of said lower trough, wedge means between said lower and intermediate troughs for holding said intermediate trough at an angle to the horizontal opposed to the angle of said first trough, the lower end of said intermediate trough discharging into the upper end of said lower trough, an upper trough, means pivotally securing an end of said upper trough to the upper end of said intermediate trough. wedge means between said upper and intermediate troughs holding said upper trough at an inclination to the horizontal opposed to said intermediate trough, a grizzley at the lower end of said upper trough and inclined to the horizontal for discharging the large particles beyond the lower end of said upper trough, a pair of transversely disposed bars engaging the upper of said troughs, tie rods engaging said bars and said platform for holding said troughs against movement relative to said platform, each of said troughs including riffie members extending lengthwise thereof.

8. A device for the purpose set forth comprising a base, a platform resiliently supported in said base, means for rockably securing the ends of the platform to the ends of the base for rocking movement of the platform transversely of its length, means for rocking the platform, a tier of superposed troughs arranged over said platform, means for maintaining said troughs at an inchnation with respect to each other and to the platform, means for securing said troughs to said platform to rock in unison with the latter, the uppermost trough of said tier having an end wall of reduced height, the bottom of said uppermost trough having one end spaced from and arranged above said wall, and a downwardly inclined grizley connected to said wall and said end and disposed over an end terminal portion of a second trough arranged directly below said uppermost trough.

9. A device for the purpose set forth comprising a base, a platform resiliently supported in said base, means for rockably securing the ends of the platform to the ends of the base for rocking movement of the platform transversely of its length, means for rocking the platform, a tier of superposed troughs arranged over said platform, means for maintaining said troughs at an inclination with respect to each other and to the platform, means for securing said troughs to said platform to rock in unison with the latter, the uppermost trough of said tier having an end wall of reduced height, the bottom of said uppermost trough having one end spaced from and arranged above said wall, a downwardly inclined grizzley connected to said wall and said end and disposed over an end terminal portion of a second trough arranged directly below said uppermost trough, means for hinging said wall to one of the end walls of said second trough, means for hinging the other end wall of the said second trough to an end wall of a third trough arranged directly below said second trough, and means for hinging the other end wall of the third trough to one end of said platform.

10. The invention as set forth in claim 9 having said means for maintaining said trough at an inclination being arranged between the troughs and between the lowermost trough and said platform and being adjustable for varying inclination of the troughs with respect to each other and with respect to said platform, the said means for maintaining said troughs at an inclination being detachably connected to said troughs.

11. A device for the purpose set forth comprising a base, a platform resiliently supported in said base, means for rockably securing the ends of said platform to the ends of the base for rocking movement of the platform transversely of its length, 2. tier of superposed inclined troughs arranged over said platform and hinged together and hinged to said platform, adjustable means for maintaining said troughs at an inclination,

with respect to each other and at an inclination with respect to said platform, means for seciu'ing said troughs to said platform to rock in unison with the latter, the uppermost trough having an end wall of reduced height, the bottom of said uppermost trough having one end spaced from and arranged above said end wall, and an inclined grizzley arranged in said uppermost trough, connected to and spanning the space between said wall and said bottom end and disposed over an end terminal portion of the trough arranged directly below said uppermost trough.

EUGENE W. WHEELER. 

